Summer vacation, will you take your child on a trip?
Not long after summer vacation began, I overheard two mothers talking about travel:
Mom with short hair: Do you know why some parents travel with babies just a few months old? Family trips are actually an excuse—the parents are the ones really eager to travel...
Mom with long hair: I used to think the same way, but... once you actually take your baby on a trip one day, those thoughts you have now will completely vanish. Really, you should give it a try...
A British couple, Paul King and Caroline King, sold their house, took their two children out of school, and started a life of global travel. They believe travel offers their children more than what they could learn in school; a German mom, Lucrezia, rode a rented bicycle with a stroller tied to the back carrying her one-year-old baby, and set off on a nature adventure; parents in London, Karen Edwards and Shaun Bayes, sold their car, rented out their house, and set off on a trip with just a suitcase full of baby supplies and their 10-week-old daughter...
Only those parents who truly take action can feel that what travel brings to both parents and children is far more than just the trip itself. As Australian psychologist Dr. Carrie Barber says, travel holds many positive meanings for children.
Travel brings children a feeling that’s hard to describe as just happiness.
One summer vacation, my child and I visited a not-too-far city. Walking down unfamiliar streets, my then three-year-old son hopped excitedly to my ear and whispered, “Mom, there’s a little rabbit living in my tummy...” Puzzled, he continued, “The rabbit is so happy to be here, hopping around, so I’m happy too.”
Childhood Talk has heard from more than one parent that every trip feels magical. Travel is nothing more than seeing scenery, staying in hotels, eating and drinking, but the kids get really excited, the adults feel joyful, and everyone ends up happy.
Neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp from Washington State University found that the human brain has two systems—one called the “PLAY” system and the other the “SEEKING” system. Staying at home is static, but once you start traveling, these two systems activate, producing healthy chemicals in the body like oxytocin and dopamine. That’s why parents often feel relaxed, happy, and less stressed when traveling with their kids—Jaak Panksepp calls it “a gift from nature.” So, it’s common to see parents smiling from the moment they get in the car until they get out with their kids.
Travel is a booster for parent-child bonding, bringing parents and children closer together.
One summer vacation, my child and I went to the seaside. When we took off our shoes, my son jumped into the water “plop plop” like a little penguin in a bathtub, leaving rows of tiny footprints in the wet sand. As we let the seawater cover our feet and the waves lap against our ankles, my son tightly held my wrist with his little hand. The sea breeze blew through his short hair. At that moment, all I could see were his crescent-shaped smiling eyes and neat little teeth. At that moment, my heart was filled with his wind-chime-like joyful laughter. At that moment, our hearts were so close—just as warm as when he was younger, hugging my neck as I told him stories.
When traveling, when parents set aside all their busyness and impatience and enjoy every bit of the trip with their child, children can fully absorb these tender emotions. Because to them, you’re wholeheartedly sharing every small surprise and mishap of the journey. The parents’ attention and gaze are all on the child, making them feel secure and content, bringing you and your child closer. That’s why travel is a booster for parent-child bonding.
Travel gives children vision and growth.
Some parents say, if you don’t take your child out to see the world, they’ll think this is all there is; if a child hasn’t been to other countries, it’s like they’ve only read one page of the “world” book. Australian child psychologist Louise Porter believes that travel broadens children’s horizons and makes their minds more open. For me, every time I return home from traveling—no matter how near or far—it always feels like my child has grown, knows a bit more.
I remember once, after coming back from the aquarium, my son smiled and said to me, “Mom, so there are sea creatures like fireflies in the world. Look, jellyfish are—they’re as beautiful as sprites.” I was a bit surprised. Words like “beautiful” and “sprite”—I don’t think I’d ever taught him them. They seemed to have “sprouted” right out of his head like little bean sprouts.
Another time, after we came back from a “village adventure,” my son said admiringly, “Mom, I never knew people in the world actually live in houses made of straw. I only heard about them in the fairy tale ‘The Three Little Pigs.’ I didn’t think they were real!” Perhaps, with more travel experiences in the future, my son will discover even more types of houses he’s never seen before—mud houses, stone houses, igloos, treehouses, houseboats...
Travel gives children vision and growth.
Travel is a “mobile classroom” for children.
George Grant said that travel is an essential part of holistic education. And I like to think of travel as a “mobile classroom” for children. No books or study plans are needed—just genuine engagement, and after each trip, your child will grow a little closer to confidence and maturity. Have you, as a parent, done this?
1. Let your child participate in choosing the travel route
Parents decide the overall travel route, while the child chooses smaller details. This not only ensures the parents’ original travel intentions but also allows the child to gain confidence through being respected. As long as the budget and time allow, parents can let the child make decisions.
2. Let your child help plan the travel itinerary
How to pass the time on the plane? How to entertain yourselves on the train? What snacks to prepare? During travel breaks, which picture books to read or toys to play with? Involving your child in planning the trip helps cultivate their organizational skills and sense of responsibility.
All of this can begin as soon as the child learns to speak and communicate with parents. Through repeated involvement in trips, children learn life skills that can’t be taught in classrooms.
Before having children, we were the main characters standing on the bridge admiring the scenery; after having children, the child becomes the main character on the bridge admiring the view, adorning the dreams of their parents. That’s the mindset of parents traveling with their kids. Whether you’re rich or not, just set off with your child—how far you go doesn’t matter.